Biography Books > A Biography Books > B

Advantages: Dozens of delicious and dodgy dinners
Disadvantages: It's vegetarian hell!

...this swaggering, gung-ho account of a year-long global culinary gross-out, he despatches, or witnesses the bloody deaths of, a pig, a lamb, several rabbits, a turkey and a cobra. I wasn't totally surprised by the carnage. I had read Bourdain's previous, autobiographical 'Kitchen Confidential'. He describes that book as "an obnoxious and overtestosteroned account of my life in the restaurant business". It was all that and more. It took the reader ...
...was never going to be a genteel affair. If American celebrity chef Bourdain is not totally honest in his justifications for the brutal, foulmouthed world of the restaurant kitchen, he is at least open about his motivation for writing 'A Cook's Tour'. On the back of the success of 'Kitchen Confidential' he persuades an editor to allow him a culinary grand tour. Ostensibly 'in search of the perfect meal' (the book's subtitle), he would get to play ... Read review

Advantages: discriptive,tragic, humourous and charming
Disadvantages: none

...the most disturbuing parts of Alan Bennetts life is read aloud by him. When assaulted in Italy,Alan, then realises how many of his birthdays have been spend either ill or in hospital. He relects on the tragedy of his life in a way that is totally unsurpassed and unique to him. Bennetts, way with words, his unique sense of humour and ability to turn darkness to light , makes this a fantastic audio book. Allows the listener a privilaged insight into ...
...a wonderful story, you feel honoured to be allowed to know so much about his life, and read from his own lips, makes his story all the more poignant. This is part 4 own his diaries and can be heard alone, but having heard and read all of his diary collection, it is a fitting sequel and would be well purchased alongside the others from his publishings. I can't find a bad word to say about this CD. Well reccommended!!!! ... Read review

Advantages: Compelling, real, amusing
Disadvantages: none

...escapes the craziness at 18. Dry takes Augusten's life story up from his early 20's. After making his own way to New York at 19, learning to read and write he blagged his way into an advertising job and is now on an award winning creative team. As well as his memoir's Burroughs has also written a novel, Sellivision (I have not yet read this) and Running With Scissors has been made into a film which was released earlier this year. Plot So here ...
...he's now got a highly paid job as one half of a creative team in the fast paced world of advertising. The other half of the creative team, Greer, is getting mighty annoyed with Augusten constantly turning up for work smelly of drink, unwashed and in unclean clothes. Augusten doesn't see the problem, so what if he drinks? He's young, he's single. when he starts turning up in clothes he's slept in and being late to meetings, Greer has had enough and ... Read review

Advantages: Comprehensive and thought-provoking
Disadvantages: Sometimes a bit dull.

Hadrian can be said to have been one of the greatest Emperors Rome ever had - a lover of art and Greek culture, an architect, and a well travelled man who enjoyed speaking to even the lowliest of his citizens. This book explores his life, from birth until death. What it reveals is a man that is cultured, intelligent, fair and kind, but also a man that is capable of great harshness and cruelty. Little is known of Hadrian's early years, and so understandably ...
...is brought out through a fascinating use of archaeology - some of it fairly obscure, which helps us to shed light on Hadrian's life. The author makes frequent use of speculation when it comes to precice dates and places, but never uses his speculation as solid fact. However, his educated guesses are precicely that - educated, and Birley is clearly writing on a subject opon which he is an authority. The book generally reads very well, but is sometimes ... Read review

Advantages: A great read, believable, fascinating, well laid out book, lovely cover
Disadvantages: Expensive

When I was growing up, one of my favourite films was Carry On Cleo. Along with the lasting images of Sid James and Kenneth Williams, there was another one – a beautiful woman with dark hair and the most amazing big eyes. It was Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra. It was only later I heard Elizabeth Taylor had played the role too, but for me, Amanda will always be the definitive Cleo. When I was about ten, I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda at the Theatre ...
...I remember very little about this unfortunately, but I do recall meeting her. A decade or more later and Amanda re-entered my world as Alma in one of my favourite TV programmes, Coronation Street. Until her character died of cervical cancer, I watched her - gossiping with Audrey, arguing with Mike and that amazing hostage situation in the supermarket. So I have been a fan of Amanda’s for a long time, around twenty-five years. I have known very little ... Read review